Teen Arrested for Running Telegram Network Selling Intimate Content of Women and Minors

A 17-year-old resident of northern Israel was arrested on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, on suspicion of being the central figure who managed several closed Telegram groups. He allegedly charged users hundreds of shekels for access to the explicit material, personally earning tens of thousands of shekels. The network's total earnings are estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of shekels. Several of the teenager's associates were also arrested on Wednesday for their alleged roles in managing the network.

On the morning of Thursday, October 22, 2026, police detectives raided homes and detained dozens of suspected buyers from across the country for questioning. Authorities allege that these buyers purchased the illicit material with full knowledge that the content depicted minors and was being distributed without consent. Many of the victims were entirely unaware that their private photos and videos were being shared and monetized. The police intend to request extensions of the main suspects' detention at the Nazareth Magistrate's Court as the investigation continues.